Bases for mounting deflecting wedges of earth-boring or drilling equipment



T. L. TUR MO ORI ES OF G EQUIPMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 m 2 T w m a M WM W may m .Y G F zw April 17, 1962 BASES EAR Filed Dec. 18, 1958 'l Ell.

A nl 17, 1962 T. L. TURMAN 3,029,874

BASES FOR MOUNTING DEFLECTING WEDGE-S OF EARTH-BORING 0R DRILLING EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 18, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ril 17, 1962 3,029,874

T. L. TURMAN BASES FOR MOUNTING DEFLECTING WEDGES OF EARTH-BORING OR DRILLING EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 18, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent ()filice 3,029,874 Patented Apr. 17, 1962 BASES FGR MQLWTHNG DEFLECTENG WEDGES GF EARTH-BGRWG R DRILLING EQUIPMENT Toby L. Turman, Allisonia, Va., assignor to Sprague &

Heartwood, incorporated, Scranton, Pm, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Dec. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 781,261 Claims. {CL 166-212) This invention rel-ates in general to a new and improved device for use in connection with diamond drilling but more particularly is directed to a new and improved mounting base for installation in a hole in the earth for the subsequent mounting thereon of the deflecting wedges often employed in earth-boring or drilling operations.

In earth-drilling or boring it is sometimes necessary to drill to one side of an existing hole because the lower portion of the hole may be blocked by debris. Then again it is at times desirable to drill off to one side of an existing hole to explore the earth in that area.

A very usual procedure under such circumstances is to put a wooden plug in the existing hole to the desired depth. Grout is then poured in on top of the plug. The deflecting wedge is subsequently set, using the grouted-in portion of the hole as a simulated hole bottom. The whole operation is time-consuming and not satisfactory.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a mounting base for mounting or setting deflecting wedges which base can be assembled above ground, lowered into a hole to whatever depth desired, and there, by means controlled from above ground, secured or anchored in place to the side of the hole against move ment relative to the hole upon subsequent placement or mounting of the wedge thereon.

The device is simple in construction, and the time necessary to place the base and subsequently set the deflecting wedge is short as compared with the plug-andgrout procedure above referred to.

More specifically, the present invention provides a base adapted to be assembled above ground and then attached to the drill rods of conventional drilling apparatus and lowered into an existing hole to the desired depth. The base is provided with two or more serrated, expandable dogs, and after it has been lowered to the desired depth in the hole in the earth, fluid pressure, controlled from above ground, is applied to expand the dogs into contact with the walls of the hole to anchor the base to the hole against movement relative thereto upon subsequent placement or mounting of a deflecting wedge thereon. The base is provided with a central tubular member which is attached to the surrounding parts 'of the base by a shear pin. The upper end or" this tubular member is coupled to the drill rods. in the final inward movement of the drill rods the pin is sheared, so that the rods and the tubular member of the device may be raised out of the hole, leaving the base tightly wedged or anchored in place. This remaining wedged or anchored portion of the device comprises a wooden sleeve, so that, when a conventional deflecting wedge with a blade-type bottom is subsequently lowered into the hole, this sleeve will be split to hold the bottom of the wedge securely in place. Subsequent procedure is conventional.

An embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional, elevational view;

FIG. 2 is an elevational View;

. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are cross-sectional views taken substantially on the lines 2-3 and 3-4 of FIG. 1; and FIG. 5 is a sectional elevational view showing the device ready for lowering into a hole in the earth.

Referring to the drawings in detail,

2 designates the main body of the improved mountingbase. This body member 2 is cylindrical and is provided at opposite sides with a groove 4. These grooves, which extend from near the top of the body member toward the bottom of the body member, are inclined to the longitudinal axis of the body member, the depth of each groove increasing uniformly until each groove is of greatest depth at its lower or inner end. 'Pivotaily mounted in each of the grooves 4 is a wedging dog 6, each dog having a serrated, straight outer face or edge, the inner face of each dog, however, being inclined to correspond to the inclination of the rear wall of the grooves 4. Each dog at its upper end is provided with cylindrical, laterally extending ears or lugs 8. The grooves 4 are provided in their side walls with lateral cut-outs or grooves 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, these grooves terminating short of the lower ends of the grooves 4. The grooves '11 receive the ears or lugs 25 of the dogs, this construction enabling the dogs to be pivotally assembled with the body member so that they are free to pivot laterally of the body member and yet are prevented from slipping off the lower end of the body member due to the termination of the cut-outs 10 short of the bottom ofthe grooves 4. This construction also permits the body member and the dogs to be moved longitudinally relatively to each other.

Surrounding the lower part of the body member 2,

concentric therewith and secured thereto by pins 11 (see' FIG. 3), is a protective sleeve 12, provided with an integral closed bottom 14. The walls of the protective sleeve 12 are provided with vertically extending diametrically opposed slots 16 in line with the grooves 4, to accommodate the jaws or dogs 6. These slots 16, are open at their upper or outer ends, as plainly shown in FIG. 1, so as not to interfere with pivoting of the dogs 6.

The lower or inner end of body member 2 is bored or chambered axially, as seen at 18, to make provision for a dog-expanding plunger 20, which is carried at the inner or lower end of a piston rod 22'. This piston rod extends upwardly through the body member 2 into a tubular member 24, which is rigidly set into the top of the body member and welded in place thereto, as shown at 25, the tubular member projecting for a substantial distance above the top or outer end of the body member, as will be seen from FIG. 1. 26 designates the piston for the rod 22, the member 24 functioning as the cylinder for this piston.

Extending into the top of the tubular member 24 for a substantial distance is a tubular member 28. 24 and 28 are temporarily coupled together initially by a shear pin 30.

Welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the upper or outer end of the inner tubular member 23 is a fitting 31 for coupling to conventional drill rods.

32 designates a wooden sleeve surrounding the piston cylinder 24. This sleeve rests upon the top of body member 2 and projects above the outer or upper end of cylinder 24 (see FIG. 1), for a substantial distance. The sleeve is secured to the cylinder by a screw 34.

Operation The base is assembled above ground with the dog'- expanding plunger 29 drawn into the large bore or chamber 18 of the body member 2. This will permit the.

der 24 to above the piston 26. A ring seal 38 is provided at the inner end of 28 to prevent the escape of pressure between 28 and the piston cylinder 24. The applied fluid pressure will force the plunger 20 outwardly of the chamber 18 of body member 2 to break the thin wire 27 holding the dogs 6 in retracted position, and to pivot the dogs about their ears 8 outwardly through the slots 16 in the protective sleeve 12 until the dogs at their lower or inner ends contact the sides of the hole 36. The parts are shown in this position in FIG. 1.

With fluid pressure maintained, the drill rods are lowered still further, and as the lower edges of the dogs 6 are caught on the walls of the hole 36, the dogs tend to remain stationary as the rest of the base, including the protective sleeve 12, is given this additional movement. Because of the inclination of the grooves 4 in the body member, which receive the ears 8 of the dogs, this additional inward movement of the body member 2 relative to the dogs will cam or wedge the upper edges of the dogs outwardly to give a still tighter grip on the walls of the hole 36. After the dogs have been forced outwardly as far as they will go, a slight further lowering of the drill rods will shear the pin 30, so that the drill rods, together with the inner tubular member 28, may be withdrawn, leaving the rest of the base wedged or anchored in the hole.

A conventional deflecting wedge with a blade-type bottom may now be lowered into the hole, and as it encounters the wooden sleeve 32 of the base, it splits the same so that the bottom part of the wedge will be held securely.

From all of the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a base for deflecting wedges which is simple in construction and operation and requires the minimum of time'for placement and anchorage in an existing hole.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinabove described within the purview of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A base for mounting deflecting wedges of earth-boring equipment, said base comprising, in combination, an elongated body member adapted to be introduced lengthwise into a hole in the earth; dog-receiving grooves in opposed faces of said body member, said grooves extending downwardly of the body member toward the lower end of the same and inclining inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the body member; a base-anchoring dog pivotally mounted in each of said grooves and projecting beyond the lower end of the base member, the inner edge of each dog inclining downwardly and inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the body member, the outer edge of each dog being serrated; a straight-sided, dogactuating plunger carried within the body member in axial alignment therewith; and a fluid-actuated piston connected to said plunger for actuating said plunger downwardly of the body member into engagement with the inclined edges of the dogs to pivot the dogs outwardly into base-anchoring contact with the sides of the hole.

2. A base for mounting deflecting wedges of earth-boring equipment, said base comprising, in combination, base-anchoring dogs; an elongated body member adapted to be introduced lengthwise into a hole in the earth; grooves in the body member for receiving said dogs, said grooves extending lengthwise of the body member along opposed faces thereof, and each groove inclining downwardly and inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the body member; each dog being slidably mounted in its groove and pivotable laterally of the body member, the face of each dog adjacent the body member being inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the body member; and a straight-sided, fluidactuated, dog-actuating plunger carried within said body member in axial alignment therewith for engaging the said inclined faces of the dogs to pivot the dogs outwardly of the body member into engagement with the wall of the hole, subsequent further actuation of the plunger increasing the contact pressure of the dogs with the sides of the hole.

3. A mounting base for installation in a hole in the earth for the subsequent mounting or setting thereon of a deflecting Wedge of earth-boring equipment, said base comprising, in combination, a body member adapted to be introduced into a hole in the earth for subsequent mounting of a deflecting wedge thereon; dogs pivotally mounted in slots on the exterior of said body member, the dogs projecting beyond the lower end of the body member; and a plunger carried by said body member in axial alignment therewith, said plunger being slidable lengthwise of said body member to engage and expand said dogs into initial contact with the wall of the hole, said body member being slidable endwise relatively to said dogs and provided with inclined surfaces engaging the said dogs whereby, upon sliding of the body member inwardly of the hole relatively to said dogs subsequent to the said initial contact of said dogs with the wall of the hole, the dogs will be forced outwardly to increase their pressure on the wall of the hole, to anchor the body member in place in the hole against movement relative thereto upon the subsequent placement or mounting of a deflecting wedge thereon.

4. A mounting base for installation in a hole in the earth for the subsequent mounting or setting thereon of a deflecting wedge of earth-boring equipment, said base comprising, in combination, a body member adapted to be introduced into a hole in the earth for subsequent mounting of a deflecting wedge thereon; dogs carried on the exterior of the body member, said body member being slidable relatively to said dogs and having surfaces inclined inwardly toward the axis of the body member to expand said dogs outwardly away from the axis of the body member, the lower end of said body member having an axially extending cavity or chamber; a plunger adapted to be received by said cavity; a piston cylinder in the upper end of said body member; a piston in said cylinder and connected to said plunger; a tubular member extending into said cylinder and coupled thereto by a shear pin; and means for attaching the tubular member to the drill rods of drilling apparatus whereby, upon introduction of the assembly into a hole in the earth and the imposition of pressure upon said piston, said plunger will expand the said dogs into contact with the Wall of the hole, continued inward movement of the body member, piston cylinder, and said tubular member effecting a further spreading of the dogs, permanently to anchor the assembly to the wall of the hole, further lowering of the drill rods and the attached tubular member shearing said pin to permit the withdrawal of the tubular member from said cylinder and retraction or with drawal of said drill rods.

5. A mounting base for installation in a hole in the earth for the subsequent mounting or setting thereon of a deflecting wedge of earth-boring equipment, said base comprising, in combination, a body member adapted to be introduced into a hole in the earth for the subsequent mounting of a deflecting wedge thereon; dogs pivotally mounted on the exterior of said body member; means carried by the body member and bodily movable relatively thereto for engaging said dogs to pivot them into contact with the wall of the hole, permanently to anchor the body member to the wall of the hole; and a wooden sleeve attached to the upper end of said body member and projecting beyond the same for a substantial distance, to be engaged and split by a deflecting wedge upon placement of the wedge upon the base subsequent to said permanent anchorage of the body member to the wall of the hole.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Dumm et a1. Sept. 1, 1931 Lane et a1 Dec. 8, 1931 5 Barrett et a1. Jan. 18, 1938 6 Matlock Apr. 16, 1940 Miller July 30, 1940 Johnson Dec. 31, 1940 Stokes Oct. 9, 1945 Haines Mar. 27, 1956 Ault Feb. 18, 1958 

